Karnataka’s ruling Congress managed to win three seats and the BJP one in the elections held for four Rajya Sabha seats from the state today. The NDA candidate from JD-S was defeated.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Harsh Mahajan, a Congress rebel who was once known for his proximity to Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, got elected to the Rajya Sabha today by defeating Congress nominee Abhishek Manu Singhvi amid reports of cross-voting by at least six ruling party legislators in the hill state.

Karnataka Rajya Sabha results

From the Congress, party Treasurer Ajay Maken secured 47 votes, Syed Nasser Hussain 47, and GC Chandrashekar 45 votes.

The BJP’s Narayansa Bandage got 47 votes, while the fifth candidate from the NDA, Kupendra Reddy only managed to get 36 votes - 16 from the BJP and 19 votes from the JD-S.

All 222 casted votes were deemed valid.

BJP MLA ST Somashekar cross-voted, defying the party whip, supporting Congress candidate Maken, while fellow party MLA Shivaram Hebbar abstained from the voting.

Independent MLAs Latha Mallikarjun, and KH Puttaswamy Gowda voted for the Congress, which also managed to secure the votes of Gali Janardhana Reddy of the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRPP) and Darshan Puttanaiah of the Sarvodaya Paksha.

Congress state president and deputy CM DK Shivakumar said it was a show of unity by the Congress MLAs.

“I want to thank the CM and all MLAs,” he said, adding that the Congress candidates had secured victory in the first round.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah has congratulated the candidates for the win and maintained that their victory has strengthened the voice of seeking justice for the state.

BJP state President BY Vijayendra said that they expected support from Congress to secure victory for JD-S candidate Kupendra Reddy and termed the results a “temporary setback”.

“We will take it as a challenge and ensure the victory of BJP candidates in all 28 Lok Sabha seats,” he stated.

The party has discussed the issue of MLAs Somashekar and Hebbar and legal consultations are being done to initiate action against them for violating party orders and supporting the Congress.

Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha results

Both the candidates, Mahajan from BJP and Congress’ Singhvi, secured 34 votes each in the 68-member House, including three Independent legislators who are believed to have voted in favour of the BJP. Mahajan was eventually declared the winner through draw of lots.

Adding salt to Congress’ wounds, BJP leader and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur has demanded the resignation of chief minister Sukhu, claiming that the Congress has been reduced to minority following its defeat in the Rajya Sabha polls.

Cross-voting haunted the Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh after the main opposition BJP made the battle for the lone Rajya Sabha seat in the state challenging by fielding a Congress rebel, who for over a decade played a crucial role in strengthening the party’s organisational base at the grassroots.

The BJP had accused the Congress of putting pressure on its legislators by issuing a whip to vote for the party candidate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was facing the outsider’s tag.

The Congress enjoys a comfortable majority of 40 MLAs in the 68-member House. The BJP has a strength of 25 legislators. There are three Independent legislators, comprising two BJP rebels and one from the Congress.

Three-time legislator Mahajan had left the Congress and joined the BJP just ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections after terming the grand old party as ‘directionless’ and ‘lacking vision’.

Meanwhile, agencies have reported that six Congress legislators, including Rajinder Rana and former Cabinet minister Sudhir Sharma - who have been vocal against their government for its reported failure to fulfil its poll promises - voted in favour of the BJP.

Sujanpur legislator Rana and Dharamsala MLA Sharma were strong candidates for ministerial berths, but they were reportedly sidelined owing to intra-party squabbles.

Himachal MLAs taken away, claims CM Sukhu

Ahead of the announcement of the RS poll results, chief minister Sukhu claimed that the CRPF and Haryana Police convoy took away five-six legislators.

“I can say that the people who have gone away are being contacted by their families... I urge them to contact their families. There is no need to worry,” he told the media here.

It is learnt that nine legislators were taken to a resort in Haryana’s Panchkula.

(Source: IANS)

- Edited for style

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